Lithuania rejects withdrawal from International Criminal Court

Lithuanian officials have stated that the country is not considering withdrawing from the International Criminal Court (ICC), despite diplomatic pressure from the United States. The Lithuanian Ministry of Justice clarified that it has only received a public message from the US Department of State urging allies not to recognize the court's jurisdiction over US officials and military personnel. The Ministry noted that such issues can be addressed through other international legal mechanisms.

President Gitanas Nausėda emphasized the difficulty of such a move, noting that 27 EU member states are part of the court. He questioned the logic of withdrawing from an institution that issued arrest warrants for figures like Vladimir Putin.

The tension stems from US concerns regarding the ICC's jurisdiction, particularly following arrest warrants issued for Israeli leadership and the court's ongoing investigations into US actions in Afghanistan. While US officials have signaled that the ICC issue is highly relevant for countries hosting American troops, Lithuania maintains it has received no direct request to withdraw from the Rome Statute.